Binding-strap buckle.



E. A. MCMILLIN.

BINDING STRAP BUCKLE.

APPLICATION nuso JULY 10. 914,

Patented Aug. 7, 1917.

PIE-9 WITNESSES EDWARD A. M M'ILLIN;

:51 l l ll/if [4 12 y ATTORNEY.

' i A. MOMILLIN, 0F NQTH MES, MASSACHUSETTS.

ENDING-STRAP BUCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented dug. a, rear.

Application filed July 10, 1914. serial Ito. 850,129.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, EDWARD A. MCMIIMN, a-citizen of the United States of America, residing and having my post-office address at the city of NorthAdams, in the county of Berkshire and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Binding-Strap Buckles, of which the subjoined description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, constitute a specification.

This invention relates to that class of fastenings for bundles, packages, &c., in which the articles to be secured are assembled either with or without an external wrapper or covering and are confined or held against sepa ration by means of a tape, strap or the like passed around them or the receptacle in which they are held, and one end of the strap is connected with the other end by means or a device in the nature of a buckle to which both ends of the strap are connected in such a ,way that by drawing one end of the strap through the buckle and strap-holding devices the strap is seized and firmly held against back-slip or loosening.

The main object or the invention is to provide a fastening device which will firmly hold the strap tightly drawn up without the aid of any spurs or prongs to penetrate the leather, tape or web of which the strap may be composed. I I

The invention is fully set forth in the accompanying drawings wherein Figure l is a plan view ofmy invention as the fastening devices appear when tightened up as when in use. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken through the center of the strap and buckle parts on the line 2-2. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the coupling jaw. Fig. 4 is a like plan of the binding jaw. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the articulated jaws as straightened out to grasp and hold the strap. Fig. 6 is a like view of the same parts with the binding jaw raised to break the grip and re lease the strap. Fig. 7 is a plan view of a sheet plate blank from which the couplingloop is struck up. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the core plate of the coupling loop. Fig. 9 is an edge view of the core plate showing an overfold along its straight edge.

The constituent parts of the invention comprise three preferably metallic members, viz., a metallic coupling loop or stirrup G, which is permanently fastened to one end of thetape or strap W, binding law A, and

a coupling jaw B, both oi? which can he slipped oil the strap or tape when the coupling member is disconnected from. the loop C. In use the three metallic members are interconnected by the strap W alone.

The coupling loop C, is composed of an outer coupling plate 1'? and an inner coreplate 51, Fig. 8. The coupling plate 17 is folded transversely upon itself along the middle line 52, so that the two leaves shall register as to their marginal edges, thus leaving the edge of the plate flush all around.

The office of the core plate is to stiffen the loop, and the edge of the fold supplies a rounded surface over which the strap or band W is carried and which will not chafe or abrade the band. The coupling plate is first punched out in the shape shown in Fig. 7, the metal on each side or" the crossbar 18, being punched out leaving openings instead out leaving the crossbar 18 as seen in Fig. '3'. This blanlr is then passed to a press where it is transversely folded upon itself along the center of bar 18 which leaves it in the form seen in Fig. l, with two rivet holes punched, one each leaf. lhe parts are assembled and the loop finished by first folding one end of the strap or band over the folded and 55 of the core plate, carrying one end of the hand back flush with the rear' edges of the leaves or the core plate with cement or glue between them. Then the core plate and band, so combined, are slipped between the leaves of the coupling plate, care being taken that their margins are kept in apposition. Then the assemblage goes to a press which inserts a rivet it, through the rivet holes in the leaves or" both plates and the whole is headed down firmly. In this operation it will be seen that the strap or band will be held firmly between two outside plates and the interposed core plate.

The coupling jaw B is punched and swaged from steel or other metallic plate into substantiallythe form shown in Fig. 3. The body part 8 has a wide projecting tongue 9 which is bent over into the form of a hook to hook over'the coupling bar 18 or" the loop 17. from the outer edge of each of w ich a small journal stud or pintle 13 projects, which in service finds lodgment in the horse shoe shaped bearings 3, 3, of the clamping aw A. it will be noticed that these pintles are substantially smaller than the inside dimensions of the bearings 3, 3. This disparity of del t has two side arts 10, id,

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sign and proportion of the cooperative parts is to enable the pintle in changing its seat when the draft on the strap or its relaxation tends to draw the coupling jaw into an altered position. his disparity also allows the jaws to accommodate themselves to'the use of straps or bands of diverse thicknesses. The jaw 11 is finished with rounded edge or corner 12 wherever the strap bears upon or is strained over it whereby chafing or abrasion of the strap is avoided.

The binding jaw is shown in plan in Fig. 4 and in edge elevation in Fig. 2. its companion member B, are punched or swaged out of steel or other metallic plate of suitable thickness and strength. It is formed with a broad thumb-piece 5 by which it may be lifted or rotated about the pintles 13, 13. It has a narrow marginal portion 15, 15, at either side, the ends of which are connected by the clamping jaw 7. The upper outer edge of this jaw is rounded as at 4, Fig. 5, which in the clamping function engages one side of the strap and crowds it against a similar edge 12 of jaw 11, Fig. 5. The parts 15 are bent around into horseshoe shape to provide free open bearings 3, 3, to receive a pintle on each end of the coupling jaw B. The transverse space between the parts 15, 15, is wide enough to permit the coupling jaw to turn freely therein when the pintles are seated in the bearin 3, 3.

The buckle is used as ollows:

Let the jaw A be placed in the position shown in Fig. 4 and let the jaw B be inverted so that the hook 9 will be turned under and pointed to the right. Then drop the hook 9 over bar 7 of jaw A. Next turn jaw- B up so that it will drop through gap 0, of jaw A, until its pintles 13, 13, rest in the bearings 3, 3, of jaw A. Then roll the hook to the left until it is brought up to a level. These manipulations roperly couple the two members and leave t e pintles seated in the bearings 3, 3, ready to receive the strapor band W. This is then threaded in as follows :The parts being coupled as in Fig. 2,

the strap is passed around the bundle or package, the 100 C being brought up to the upper side of t e same, then the free end W is passed under the thumb-pad 5, of jaw A, up through gap 0 of jaw A and up through, gap 00 of jaw B to the left of gripping bar 7 over bar 7 down under bar 11 of jaw B and thence out through gap 0 and under thumb-pad 5 where it can be seized by the operative. This leaves the strap involved between the bars-7 of one jaw and 11 of the other where it can be gri ped by pressing down pad 5. By raising the ad the grip on the strap will be released when by,stre tching the end W of the strap its bmdin tension will be increased and this increase tension may be secured by turnin the pad: 5 down which clamps the bars 7 an This and 11 tightly together with the strap tightly clamped between them.

I therefore claim as my invention and desire to protect by Letters Patent, the followin i. In a device of the character described, the combination of a coupling member having at one end a part to engage a member to be coupled and at its opposite end an offset gripping jaw, saidcoupling member having a transverse recess ad acent said jaw, and a clamping member having at one end an offset gripping jaw and side arms separated from one another by an unobstructed space to receive the gripping jaw of the coupling member, and pintles projecting outwardly from the sides of the coupling member adj acent the ofiset jaw thereof and adapted to loosely engage the clamping member at the point of connection between the jaw and sides of the latter.

2. In. a device of the character described, the combination of a coupling member comprising a body part ofi'set at one end to pro vide a coupling hook and having side arm extensions at the opposite end connecting with an ofiset gripplng, jaw, which latter is separated from the body part by an un-.

"obstructed space, and a clamping member comprising a body part, side arm extensions and an offset gripping jaw, the side arm extensions being separated from one another by an unobstructed space wider than the width of the coupling member whereby to receive in said space the jaw of the coupling member, said clamping member having at its end opposite the jaw thereof a finger engaging part, and a detachable ivotal connection between the side arms of thecoupling and clamping members.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a coupling member comprising a' body part ofiset at one end to provide a coupling hook and having side arm. extensions at the opposite end connecting with an ofiset gripping jaw, which latter is separated from the body part by an unobstructed space, and a clamping member comprising a body part, side arm extensions and an 0 set gripping jaw, the side arm extensions being separated from one another by an unobstructed space wider than the width of the couplin member whereb to receive in said space t e jaw of the coupling member, and outwardly projecting pintles on the side arms of the coupling member adapted to loosely engage the clampingmember adjacent the jaw thereof to form a pivotal connection between the members.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination of a clamping member having a finger engaging part at one end and a return bent gripping jaw portion at the opposite end, the jaw portion being separated fi om the body part of the member by;

meager an unobstructed space, and a coupling member having at one end a coupling part and at its opposite end a return bent gripping jaw part separated from the body portion thereof by an unobstructed space, the width of the coupling member being less than the Width of the space of the clamping member whereby the gripping jaw of the coupling member may be positioned in said space to permit the jaws of the respective members to grasp a strap or the like therebetween, and outwardly rojecting pintles on the sides of the coupling member of a width to overlie and engage the clamping member at the point of connection between the gripping jaw and the body of the clamping member.

5. In a fastener device of the character described for bands or the like, the combination of a metallic part adapted to be secured to one end of the band, said metallic part having a loop portion, of a coupling member having at one end an ofiset hook part to engage said loop portion and having at its opposite end a return bent gripping jaw part separated from the body portion thereof by an unobstructed space, and a clamping member having an operating finger piece at one end and a return bent gripping jaw at its opposite end separated from the bod portion of the clamping member by an unobstructed space adapted to receive the gripping jaw of the coupling member, and said coupling member having side projecting pintles adapted "to loosely engage the clamping member at the point of connection between the gripping jaw and the body portion thereof. f

In testimony whereof I have hereto subscribed my name this sixth day of July, A. 11,1914.

EDWD A. MoLLIN.

Witnesses:

MABEL A. SANDERS, FAITH W. Caner. 

